Sometimes You Just Have To Poke Fun At Yourself

If you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at?

I try not to take life too seriously.  I'm not "laid back" by any stretch of the imagination but do my best to keep my own drama in perspective.  Is it really a big deal I had to write a $560 dollar check to a guy who claims I hit his bumper?  Well....yes....but the reality is I'm in good health, love my job and have the best family.  So while paying a stranger $560 is really annoying it is pretty minuscule in the grand scheme of things.  Think glass full.  


So when I'm feeling stressed or having a bad day I look at these photos of me as a kid.....which are HILARIOUS.  

I'm not sure why my mom insisted on making 
me looking like a gremlin.   

Hold tight.....It gets funnier.

Please oh please tell me you have pics of yourself that are as traumatizing as these???

xo

Sarah

Be Cool With Yourself.....

I turned this shirt into....

This......

I thought I looked fine....that the thrifted shirt was a winner....UNTIL....

My family made a funny face as I was leaving the house...It wasn't the face of "Wow!  You look great!" it was more of "Huh?  I don't get your outfit."

This is when I realized....you've gotta be cool with yourself.  Not just with this outfit but with everything in life.  Not everyone will like everything you wear (or do).  But as long as you are happy with yourself that is all that really matters.  

So maybe my outfit looks a little silly....I'm ok with it because I like it....

xo

Sarah

Flats + Heels = Ankle Boots = Less Back Pain = Healthy

I walk a TON for work.  Constantly on the go.  I LOVE high heels but they get ruined so fast when I wear them for work.  I also love flats but they are a bit too casual for work.....SO......I've fallen in love with ankle boots.  These ones in particular.  

I've got a cork board on my desk and I pin up everything I'm asking the universe for....IT WORKS.  I swear.  

Wedge heel shoes are much better for your back because they distribute weight more evenly where as a heel puts more pressure on the ball of your foot.  This means I can have less aches and pains during the work week and still look stylish (or at least I think I'm stylish haha).  

I gave it a go this week

On a side note....I'm also a fan of scarves.  HUGE FAN.  This one is Cynthia Rowley and I got it for $16 bucks.  TOTAL STEAL.

Even Lenny was a fan.  

They work in jeans too....

I would hate to ruin the pedicure I did MYSELF!  

PS - I started doing pedi/mani's myself and I'm actually really good at it.  

Save myself $35 buck a pop and don't get harassed about adding a bikini wax or eyebrow wax to my service...HAHA

Have a happy hump day!

Do you have a "go to" shoe for work?

xo

Sarah

The ABsolutely FABulous Challenge Day 10: Do The Shuffle

THE

ABsolutely FABulous 

14 Day Challenge 

14 days worth of Ab Workouts, Healthy Habits & Positive Thinking

DAY 10:

Ab Challenge:  Here is a 10 minute video of a standing ab routine.  I really like doing abs while standing and this routine made me really sore.  Exercise TV has great videos and I usually find them on my TV using Fios on Demand.

Healthy Habit Challenge:  Do The Shuffle.  I'm a self proclaimed control freak.  I'm also a little a lot OCD.  I have structured workouts with goals and playlists......I don't just GO to the gym I have a PLAN.....which can be kind of exhausting!
Instead of getting upset about it I embrace it.  Do you have workout routines structured during the week like I do?  I'm WAY to much of a structured worker outer....but not today.....I'm doing the shuffle.

It's shuffle time.  I found an old iPod I TOTALLY forgot about.  I don't even remember the music I put on it.  SO I put my headphones in and went for a run on the shuffle mode.  It was SO liberating to not have a plan and just go.  If the song was slow I walked, if the song was fast I ran.  There were SO MANY songs I forgot how much I loved.  Needless to say it was a great workout and I was happy to break my typical routine.

Positive Thinking Challenge: My mom had The Desiderata hanging by the front door of our house.  She referenced it often and while I was annoyed by it then I am appreciative of it now.  Here is one of the lines I found most useful.  

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

PS - I often have bad hair days am too lazy to do my hair.  My solution to this problem.....headbands.  Headbands make it look as if I put effort into looking stylish....even if I might not actually be stylish....I also call this Sunday hair.

ABsolutely FABulous Challenge Day 9: Do The New....Dude...

THE

ABsolutely FABulous 

14 Day Challenge 

14 days worth of Ab Workouts, Healthy Habits & Positive Thinking

DAY 9

Ab Challenge:  Do the new.  Anything.  At all.  If you run, bike.  If you bike, walk.  If you do both....well then you are a darn rockstar.  Bodies get bored with the same old, same old.  Cross training always helps build different muscles....especially your core and abs.  My husband and sister took a surf lesson this weekend which is a killer workout on your abs.  I would have done it too but then who would take pictures??!!  SECRET:  I am terrified of wave.  Not water, just waves.  I think it is called wavephobia.  Ok, so I made that up.....but it could be real. 

Healthy Habit Challenge:  My sister, mom & I came up with a saying over the weekend that applies to most everything in life. Zip it. Fix it. Stop it. 

Zip it = Just stop talking about it.  Talking about negative things can make it worse!

Fix it = Do something about it!  If you talk and don't act what is the point?

Stop it = Whatever 'it' is stop it.  Whether is be a negative friend, terrible boss or a bad habit.  Just.  Don't.  Do it.

Positive Thinking Challenge:  Surround yourself with people who make you better.  Invest in relationships that recharge you.  Settle for nothing less than what you want and desire.

On a random note look how cute my mom's outfit was.  At least I know where I get my sense of style....haha!  This is again where my philosophy of "belts make everything better" come into play.  That belt makes the whole outfit rock.

The ABsolutely FABulous Challenge Day 8: We Are Half Way There!

THE

ABsolutely FABulous 

14 Day Challenge 

14 days worth of Ab Workouts, Healthy Habits & Positive Thinking

DAY 8

Ab Challenge:  The V Hold.  

Hold this position for 30 seconds 

with a 30 second recovery.

Hold this position for 45 seconds

with a 45 second recovery.

Hold this position for 60 seconds

with a 60 second recovery.

Repeat for 3 sets.

Healthy Habit Challenge:  Floss.....just do it.  As annoying as it is.....just do it......your gums and dentist will thank you.

Positive Thinking Challenge:Ditch your rules.  Not all of them.....just the ones that are needless.  For example:  Making the bed and dishes in the sink.  Why?  I just get mad at my husband when he doesn't making the bed or leaves one coffee mug in the sink.....POINTLESS.  I should just make the damn bed and put the sink away.....it really isn't worth the energy to fight.  PLUS my where my husband lacks in bad making he makes up for in affection and good taste in home decor (phew).

I just bought this necklace.  It's not thrifted but was on sale for $20 bucks.  Love it.  Funny thing is my husband wasn't a fan.  I however saw something unique....the day I wore it we flew to California and 3 people stopped me to tell me how much they liked my necklace.  Goes to show....trust your own gut!

The ABsolutely FABulous Challenge: Day 7

THE

ABsolutely FABulous 

14 Day Challenge 

14 days worth of Ab Workouts, Healthy Habits & Positive Thinking

DAY 7

Ab Challenge:  Obliques!  

3 Sets of 20 on each side. 

Please see Allison below: 

Healthy Habit Challenge: Check your labels.  If there are more than 20 ingredients and you can't pronounce 1/2 of them put the item away.....Not all snack bars are good for you.  Some of them have too many ingredients that are pretty much just sugar.  WASTE of a snack. 

Positive Thinking Challenge:  Eliminate the words no, don't and can't from your vocabulary for one day.  I did this yesterday and while I found it hard it was funny how many times I caught myself saying these words unnecessarily!  Example:  My husband asked if I could skip the gym to hang out with him on the couch and be lazy.  Saying yes felt kind of nice.....

So I've been on a roll with posting outfits this week.  Here is one that I was pretty excited about.  Just a plain dress where I added a thrifted button up and belt.  Belts are my cure to everything.  Oh and hot tubs.

The ABsolutely FABulous Challenge: Day 6

THE

ABsolutely FABulous 

14 Day Challenge 

14 days worth of Ab Workouts, Healthy Habits & Positive Thinking

DAY 6

AB Challenge:  Planks. I love these but I hate these.  That is the beauty of them....I'm not just doing regular  planks but SUPER planks.  Let me show you....ok let my gracious fitness model Allison show you.

Start in plank with your arms straight
and directly under your shoulders.

Go down on your left elbow.
Keep your body as close to parallel
to the floor as possible.

Now do the right arm.

Repeat for 1 full minute.
Take a 30 second recovery.
Repeat the above for 5 rounds.

By the end you will feel like above! Haha

Healthy Habit Challenge:  Breathe.  For real.  Like Breathe in and breathe out.  10 full breaths.  When I do this I feel so much better.....and a lot less stressed.

Positive Thinking Challenge:  Smile.  Often.  I swear people look so much better when they smile.


PS - I found this belt for $3.  Woo to the hoo.  Plus don't I look serious in front of my new desk?  It is business time people!

   

Absolutely FABulous Day 5: Back Me Up People!

THE

ABsolutely FABulous 

14 Day Challenge 

14 days worth of Ab Workouts, Healthy Habits & Positive Thinking

DAY 5

BACK ME UP PEOPLE!

I'm always striving for a strong and sexy back so I can feel confident in clothes with interesting backs like this.........

Happy Monday 

Here is the challenge:

AB Challenge:  Lower back extensions.  4 Sets of 20.

Even workout clothes have cool backs!

Healthy Habit Challenge: I rarely slow down.  My brain is running a million miles a minute at ALL TIMES.  Today I'm going to attempt to meditate for 5 full minutes.  Last time I tried this I got to 2 full minutes and was SO PROUD.  Here's what you do:  Lay on the floor before bed.  Set a 5 minute timer.  Shut your eyes (don't sleep) and let your brain go blank until the timer goes off.  Eliminate all thoughts (this is the hardest part)....I usually never make it to 5 minutes.  But I sure as heck am trying!

Positive Thinking Challenge: Forgive someone.  Anyone.  It could be the guy who just cut you off during rush hour traffic or the snooty barista at a local coffee shop.  Just forgive.  Hating & anger require too much wasted energy.  

Ahhh ZEN.

PS - In my next life I want to be a house dog.  Sleep, eat, run, play.  See Ruby below....

ABsolutely FABulous Challenge Day 4

*** Quick break in the challenge to tell you about my new favorite fitness blog The Athletarian.  Christina is ADORABLE and is currently having a great giveaway that I think EVERYONE should enter.  Click HERE to check out her blog.

THE

ABsolutely FABulous 

14 Day Challenge 

14 days worth of Ab Workouts, Healthy Habits & Positive Thinking

Ok ......here we go!

AB Challenge: Here's how it works:

Step 1 - Lift your legs in the air and toes your toes.  

3 Sets of 20

Step 2: Tap the outside of your left foot then your right.  3 Sets of 20

Step 3:  Breathe....you're done!  Easy right?

Healthy Habit Challenge:  Drink more water!  Summer is hot, we are all active and everyone could use more water.  Did you know one of the best ways to stay hydrated is by eating fruit?  Fruits like pineapple, watermelon, grapes & peaches have high water content and stay in your system longer.  This doesn't apply to them as juice.  That's usually high in sugar.

Positive Thinking Challenge:  Hug.  All the time.  Hug people more often.  I love hugging but don't do it enough.  My husband is always asking what I am doing (which is usually blogging) and I always tell him I'm busy....but am I really to busy to hug him.....of course not.  A little less blogging and a little more hugging never killed anyone!

Did everyone have a good weekend?  I TOTALLY did! I played around in my closet and came up with this.  Also went to a comedy club & jewelry party.  Woo hoo.